The Department of the Interior and Local Government – National Capital Region (DILG-NCR), through the Manila Bay Clean-up, Rehabilitation, and Preservation Program (MBCRPP), organized a joint clean-up drive alongside the 1Filipino Foundation, its partner Civil Society Organization (CSO), in four barangays in the City of Las Piñas on July 29, 2023. These Barangays are: Pulang Lupa Uno, Zapote, Elias Aldana, and Manuyo Dos.

The event commenced with warm welcoming remarks from the City Director of DILG Las Piñas, Mary Anne B. Planas, CESO V. In her address, she expressed her gratitude to all participants, volunteers, and to 1Filipino Foundation for their support in this crucial initiative to clean the Dalig Creek.

City Director Planas also emphasized that the regular clean-up activities of the City and the Barangays contribute to maintaining the cleanliness of Manila Bay and rehabilitating the waterways that are tributaries to the Bay.

For his part, Mr. Nunnatus “Toots” A. Cortez, President of 1Filipino Foundation, reiterated that sustainable practices and environmental consciousness are core principles that underpin the foundation’s efforts to improve the lives of Filipinos. Accordingly, these efforts are organized around four pillars of intervention: livelihood, environment, education, and healthcare.

Given their common purpose, 1Filipino Foundation and DILG-NCR entered into a partnership agreement and formalized the same with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding last year.

LGOO VII Raymond Gerard de Asis, Chief of the Local Government Monitoring and Evaluation Division (LGMED), commended those involved in the clean-up drive, adding that small individual actions, taken together can lead to significant changes. In that spirit, LGMED Chief de Asis encouraged everyone to continue actively participating in environmental protection initiatives in order to create a healthier and more vibrant Manila Bay.

The highlight of the event was the donation of three boats, and the provision of cleanup implements and materials by the 1Filipino Foundation to the recipient barangays of Las Piñas City. City Director Planas, LGMED Chief de Asis, officials from the recipient barangays, and the 1Filipino Foundation contingent, officiated the turnover ceremony. In turn, the recipient barangays expressed their gratitude to the Foundation for its valuable support and commitment to environmental conservation.